Honorary Professor John Upham
Honorary Professor

John Upham

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Background

John Upham is a clinical scientist and physician with longstanding research interests in the immunological basis of asthma and chronic lung disease, the role of dendritic cells in allergy and virus infections of the lung, and the development of novel approaches to severe asthma treatment.

John is highly influential in his field, with > 195 publications, > 5,400 citations and an H index of 46. Since 2009, he has 112 publications (1st/senior author on 45%) with a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 2.03. Moreover, 21.5% of publications are in the top 10% of most-cited publications worldwide (field-weighted). His publications have been cited in >20 different subject areas, demonstrating translation to fields other than Medicine. His research has international reach with citations in 80 countries (Scopus Dec 2018).

In the last 10 years, he has secured over $24 million in research funding. John has been awarded 8 NHMRC Project grants (4 as CIA in the last 5 years), 2 NHMRC CRE (“Closing the gap in Indigenous Lung Health” and “Severe Asthma”), and 1 NHMRC Development Grant. He currently holds NHMRC grants of $7.5 million, including $2.96 million as CIA. John was regularly an invited (9x), plenary (3x) and Chair (9x) at national and international conferences in the last 5 years. In recognition of his international standing and influence in the field, he was elected Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2004) and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (2015).

Availability

Honorary Professor John Upham is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cardiovascular medicine and haematology Clinical sciences Immunology Respiratory diseases

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia

Research interests

  • Immune function and susceptibility to virus infections in asthma and COPD

  • Plasmacytoid dendritic cells

    Type I interferon production Immune regulation

  • Severe asthma: towards evidence-based assessment and management

  • Innate immunity and bacterial infections of the lungs

    Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease in children Lung health in Indigenous children

  • Allergy and immune tolerance

Research impacts

John is currently the President (2021-22) of the Thoracic Society of Australia and Zealand and is a key member of the NHMRC funded Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Asthma Treatable Traits. He has played a leadership role in organising and co-chairing three recent national symposia on severe asthma to facilitate research collaboration, build research and clinical capacity, and improve models of care for severe asthma. He has been a member of multiple advisory boards to pharmaceutical companies, both international and national (AstraZeneca, GSK, Novartis, Nycomed, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Mundipharma, Menarini), and has provided advice to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. His research has provided new treatment options for severe asthma, and guided the appropriate length of antibiotic treatment for Indigenous children with pneumonia, protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis. John's research will inform best use of influenza vaccination in COPD, and guide the use of conjugate vaccines to improve immunity to Haemophilus in Indigenous children. He contributed to Clinical Practice Guidelines for the use of omalizumab and mepolizumab in Australia and he was part of the working group that prepared a web-based Severe Asthma Toolkit for the Severe Asthma CRE.

Search Professor John Upham’s works on UQ eSpace

377 works between 1983 and 2025
All (377) Journal Article (230) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (142)

121 - 140 of 377 works

2017

Journal Article

Management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a Respiratory High-dependency Unit

Hukins, Craig, Wong, Mimi, Murphy, Michelle and Upham, John (2017). Management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a Respiratory High-dependency Unit. Internal Medicine Journal, 47 (7), 784-792. doi: 10.1111/imj.13403

Management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a Respiratory High-dependency Unit

2017

Journal Article

Bronchiectasis in children: current concepts in immunology and microbiology

Pizzutto, Susan J., Hare, Kim M. and Upham, John W. (2017). Bronchiectasis in children: current concepts in immunology and microbiology. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 5 123, 123. doi: 10.3389/fped.2017.00123

Bronchiectasis in children: current concepts in immunology and microbiology

2017

Journal Article

Inflammatory phenotypes in patients with severe asthma are associated with distinct airway microbiology

Taylor, Steven L., Leong, Lex E. X., Choo, Jocelyn M., Wesselingh, Steve, Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Baraket, Melissa, Marks, Guy B., Gibson, Peter G., Simpson, Jodie L. and Rogers, Geraint B. (2017). Inflammatory phenotypes in patients with severe asthma are associated with distinct airway microbiology. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 141 (1), 94-103.e15. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.03.044

Inflammatory phenotypes in patients with severe asthma are associated with distinct airway microbiology

2017

Journal Article

Response

Wurzel, Danielle F., Marchant, Julie M., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Upham, John W. and Chang, Anne B. (2017). Response. Chest, 151 (4), 940-941. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.12.030

Response

2017

Journal Article

Can biomarkers help us hit targets in difficult-to-treat asthma?

Fricker, Michael, Heaney, Liam G. and Upham, John W. (2017). Can biomarkers help us hit targets in difficult-to-treat asthma?. Respirology, 22 (3), 430-442. doi: 10.1111/resp.13014

Can biomarkers help us hit targets in difficult-to-treat asthma?

2017

Journal Article

Dendritic cells in human lung disease: recent advances

Upham, John W. and Xi, Yang (2017). Dendritic cells in human lung disease: recent advances. Chest, 151 (3), 668-673. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.09.030

Dendritic cells in human lung disease: recent advances

2017

Conference Publication

An Analysis of the Effect of Azithromycin in Persistent Asthma, Based On Pre-Specified Asthma Phenotypes

Powell, Heather, Simpson, Jodie L., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Baraket, Melissa, Marks, Guy B. and Gibson, Peter G. (2017). An Analysis of the Effect of Azithromycin in Persistent Asthma, Based On Pre-Specified Asthma Phenotypes. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

An Analysis of the Effect of Azithromycin in Persistent Asthma, Based On Pre-Specified Asthma Phenotypes

2017

Journal Article

RAGE deficiency predisposes mice to virus-induced paucigranulocytic asthma

Arikkatt, Jaisy, Ullah, Md Ashik, Short, Kirsty Renfree, Zhang, Vivian, Gan, Wan Jun, Loh, Zhixuan, Werder, Rhiannon B., Simpson, Jennifer, Sly, Peter D., Mazzone, Stuart B., Spann, Kirsten M., Ferreira, Manuel A R., Upham, John W., Sukkar, Maria B. and Phipps, Simon (2017). RAGE deficiency predisposes mice to virus-induced paucigranulocytic asthma. eLife, 6 e21199. doi: 10.7554/eLife.21199

RAGE deficiency predisposes mice to virus-induced paucigranulocytic asthma

2017

Conference Publication

Determinants Of Rhinovirus And Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production In A Large Group Of Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals

Upham, J. W., Murray, L., Xi, Y., Revez, J. and Ferreira, M. (2017). Determinants Of Rhinovirus And Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production In A Large Group Of Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Washington Afghanistan, 19-24 May 2017. New York, NY United States: American Thoracic Society.

Determinants Of Rhinovirus And Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production In A Large Group Of Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals

2017

Conference Publication

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations In Adults With Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

Gibson, P. G., Yang, I. A., Upham, J. W., Reynolds, P. N., Hodge, S., James, A. L., Jenkins, C., Peters, M., Marks, G. B., Baraket, M., Simpson, J. L. and Powell, H. (2017). Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations In Adults With Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Washington Dc, May 19-24, 2017. NEW YORK: AMER THORACIC SOC.

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations In Adults With Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

2017

Conference Publication

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations in Adults with Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

Gibson, Peter G., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Marks, Guy B., Baraket, Melissa, Powell, Heather and Simpson, Jodie L. (2017). Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations in Adults with Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations in Adults with Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

2017

Conference Publication

Determinants of Rhinovirus and Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production in a Large Cohort

Murray, Liisa, Xi, Yang, Revez, Joana A., Ferreira, Manuel A. and Upham, John W. (2017). Determinants of Rhinovirus and Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production in a Large Cohort. The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra, Australia, 24–28 March 2017. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley.

Determinants of Rhinovirus and Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production in a Large Cohort

2017

Conference Publication

IL-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthma via selective upregulation of one chain of the IL-33 receptor

Upham, John, Jurak, Lisa and Xi, Yang (2017). IL-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthma via selective upregulation of one chain of the IL-33 receptor. ERS International Congress 2017, Milan, Italy, 9-13 September 2017. Lausanne, Switzerland: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/1393003.congress-2017.pa567

IL-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthma via selective upregulation of one chain of the IL-33 receptor

2016

Journal Article

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network

Cheng, Allen C., Holmes, Mark, Dwyer, Dominic E., Irving, Louis B., Korman, Tony M., Senenayake, Sanjaya, Macartney, Kristine K., Blyth, Christopher C., Brown, Simon, Waterer, Grant, Hewer, Robert, Friedman, N Deborah, Wark, Peter A., Simpson, Graham, Upham, John, Bowler, Simon D., Lessing, Albert, Kotsimbos, Tom and Kelly, Paul M. (2016). Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network. Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report, 40 (4), E521-E526.

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network

2016

Journal Article

Real-life effectiveness of omalizumab in severe allergic asthma above the recommended dosing range criteria

Hew, M., Gillman, A., Sutherland, M., Wark, P., Bowden, J., Guo, M., Reddel, H. K., Jenkins, C., Marks, G. B., Thien, F., Rimmer, J., Katsoulotos, G. P., Cook, M., Yang, I., Katelaris, C., Bowler, S., Langton, D., Wright, C., Bint, M., Yozghatlian, V., Burgess, S., Sivakumaran, P., Yan, K. Y., Kritikos, V., Peters, M., Baraket, M., Aminazad, A., Robinson, P., Jaffe, A. ... Gibson, P. G. (2016). Real-life effectiveness of omalizumab in severe allergic asthma above the recommended dosing range criteria. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 46 (11), 1407-1415. doi: 10.1111/cea.12774

Real-life effectiveness of omalizumab in severe allergic asthma above the recommended dosing range criteria

2016

Journal Article

Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis

Wurzel, Danielle F., Marchant, Julie M., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Upham, John W., Petsky, Helen L., Smith-Vaughan, Heidi, Masters, Brent, Buntain, Helen and Chang, Anne B. (2016). Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis. Chest, 150 (5), 1101-1108. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.06.030

Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis

2016

Journal Article

Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus–induced asthma by dampening antiviral immunity

Lynch, Jason P., Werder, Rhiannon B., Simpson, Jennifer, Loh, Zhixuan, Zhang, Vivian, Haque, Ashraful, Spann, Kirsten, Sly, Peter D., Mazzone, Stuart B., Upham, John W. and Phipps, Simon (2016). Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus–induced asthma by dampening antiviral immunity. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 138 (5), 1326-1337. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.02.039

Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus–induced asthma by dampening antiviral immunity

2016

Journal Article

Hookworm recombinant protein promotes regulatory T cell responses that suppress experimental asthma

Navarro, Severine, Pickering, Darren A., Ferreira, Ivana B., Jones, Linda, Ryan, Stephanie, Troy, Sally, Leech, Andrew, Hotez, Peter J., Zhan, Bin, Laha, Thewarach, Prentice, Roger, Sparwasser, Tim, Croese, John, Engwerda, Christian R., Upham, John W., Julia, Valerie, Giacomin, Paul R. and Loukas, Alex (2016). Hookworm recombinant protein promotes regulatory T cell responses that suppress experimental asthma. Science Translational Medicine, 8 (362) 362ra143, 362ra143-362ra143. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf8807

Hookworm recombinant protein promotes regulatory T cell responses that suppress experimental asthma

2016

Journal Article

Understanding the immune and inflammatory response to rhinoviruses: recent advances with relevance to asthma

Kunarajah, Kuhan, Pena, Olga and Upham, John W. (2016). Understanding the immune and inflammatory response to rhinoviruses: recent advances with relevance to asthma. Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, 12 (3), 215-224. doi: 10.2174/1573398X12666160909102919

Understanding the immune and inflammatory response to rhinoviruses: recent advances with relevance to asthma

2016

Conference Publication

Absence of interferon-beta promotor stimulator-1 (IPS1) induces bronchiolitis and asthma-like pathology in response to pneumoviral infection

Simpson, J., Loh, Z., Zhang, , Spann, K., Upham, J. and Phipps, S. (2016). Absence of interferon-beta promotor stimulator-1 (IPS1) induces bronchiolitis and asthma-like pathology in response to pneumoviral infection. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Absence of interferon-beta promotor stimulator-1 (IPS1) induces bronchiolitis and asthma-like pathology in response to pneumoviral infection

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2021
    Reducing acute severe respiratory events in health care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic with OM85
    NHMRC MRFF Coronavirus Research Response
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    The airway epithelium in paediatric respiratory diseases
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant

Availability

Honorary Professor John Upham is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Immune dysregulation in asthma and host defence against respiratory viruses

    Our program of translational research is focussed on the study of immune function and dysfunction in asthma, and host defence against respiratory viruses, especially human rhinoviruses. We are interested in the mechanisms leading to excessive airway inflammation in asthma, and why people with asthma are unusually susceptible to asthma attacks during respiratory viral infections. Our aim is to discover new therapeutic targets in severe asthma.

    Research Projects

    • The function of key immune cells such as antigen presenting cells and NK cells
    • The role of polarizing cytokines such as IL-33, IL-25 and TSLP in altering host defence against viruses.
    • How macrolide antibiotics alter immune function

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Honorary Professor John Upham directly for media enquiries about:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Dendritic cells
  • Immunity
  • Lung infections
  • Lungs - virus infections
  • Virus infections of the lung

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